ACE VET Linkages: Provider, Student and Industry Views.

In recent years, Australia's system of adult and community education (ACE) has broadened to include vocational learning as well as the hobby, enrichment, and personal development traditionally provided by ACE in the past. A study examined the views of ACE providers, ACE students, and industry organizations regarding ACE vocational education and training (VET) and its linkage with mainstream VET (predominately technical and further education institutes). When ACE students and providers were asked to identify the features that most distinguished ACE VET from mainstream VET, the most common responses fell into the following categories: (1) progression is flexible; (2) course content and delivery matches student and enterprise needs; (3) the learning environment is friendly, supportive, and nonbureaucratic; and (4) ACE courses are designed with an easygoing style of presentation and are relevant and to the point. Approximately half of the ACE providers considered existing linkages between ACE VET and mainstream VET limited or very limited. Strategies for improving the linkages between ACE VET and mainstream VET were identified along with a list of vocational training needs that ACE should address. The issue of whether ACE should complement or compete with mainstream VET was discussed. The need for both sectors to cooperate and collaborate was emphasized. (MN)